At the very instant Zhang Qi pressed the button, the livestream feed before all seven billion people around the world abruptly disconnected.
In New York's Times Square, the massive Sony GG billboard was left with nothing but a profound blackness.
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The crowd below seemed to have been muted. The air, which had been boiling with excitement over the earth-shattering broadcast just seconds ago, was now filled only with bewildered, deathly silence.
Inside the Planetary Defense Council's conference room, that black screen magnified the panic even further.
"What happened?! Where's the signal?!"
The chairman practically sprang out of his chair, his face filled with shock.
"Uh, it was forcefully discon—disconnected—"
A young technician adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and explained, "We didn't cut it off. The signal source itself vanished."
"Vanished? What do you mean, vanished?!"
the chairman hurriedly demanded.
"According to my guess, the original livestream signal was established by Sophon.
"But according to data just transmitted by our surveillance satellites—the Plasma Spark Tower is operating at exponentially increasing power. An ultra-high-intensity magnetic field and particle storm have formed around the tower.
"Sophon is, by nature, only a microscopic particle. Exposure to that environment would be extremely dangerous.
"So, for self-preservation, it chose to actively sever the communication link—"
As the technician spoke, cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Wait, you mean—"
Catching the key point, the chairman's eyes widened. He asked in utter disbelief, "That device—Zhang Qi—activated it?"
The technician did not answer. He merely nodded heavily.
Then, unconsciously, he looked out the window.
The conference room was located high up in the headquarters building in Geneva, with an excellent view.
At that moment, though it was a bright Swiss afternoon, a new sun rose on the distant horizon.
A blue sun.
It